Jordan Henderson's England fate decided as ex-Liverpool star dealt harsh truth
The countdown is on.
In just three months' time, Europe's best will flock to Germany for a month of football drama to determine the winners of Euro 2024. But will Jordan Henderson be there?
The 33-year-old midfielder was a regular for Gareth Southgate during his time at Liverpool. But an ill-fated stint in Saudi Arabia and his advancing years have raised question marks over whether he will be on the plane.
A grovelling apology and a return to Europe with Ajax has boosted his chances, but does he deserve to be in Southgate's plans? Mirror Football asked our reporters for their verdicts on whether Henderson should make the 23-man party carrying England's hopes....
John Cross
Jordan Henderson should be in the England squad on Thursday - and for the Euros.
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The former Liverpool captain made a huge mistake in going to Saudi Arabia because of the standard of football, the message it sent and he has made himself unpopular with the England fanbase.
But it takes a bigger person to admit a mistake and out it right. He will still need to convince a lot of people particularly from the LGBTQ community.
It was so horribly naive - and slightly unbelievable - that he thought he could make a real difference in Saudi which was his argument. The human rights record suggests otherwise.
It’s a bad taste in the mouth. But Henderson is back at Ajax, playing a decent level and Gareth Southgate went straight out to watch his first game.
What is that telling you? He’ll be in. I don’t think he should necessarily start. But he will be a good squad member and can do a job.
The bigger question for me is who plays in midfield. It should be a 4-2-3-1 system with Declan Rice as one of the two midfielders, Jude Bellingham in the No10 and Phil Foden wide left.
But who on earth plays with Rice? It’s a big dilemma. I would have gone Curtis Jones but for injury. Southgate might yet pick Kalvin Phillips. But don’t bet against Henderson even if it feels to me his starting place has gone.
Henderson's return to Europe with Ajax has boosted his chances (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Jeremy Cross
Jordan Henderson has been one of the bedrocks of Gareth Southgate's time as England boss.
And it's safe to assume Henderson decided to cut short his ill-fated move to the Saudi Arabian Pro League to boost his chances of making the squad for this summer's Euros in Germany. But times are changing - not to mention leaving the former Liverpool captain behind.
He will be 34 during the Euros, and despite all his experience and passion when it comes to the Three Lions, Southgate should be looking at fresher options. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are nailed on to start the first game of the Euros, while if fit and back in form, Kalvin Phillips will also be involved, because he remains popular with Southgate.
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Conor Gallagher is also having an impressive season with Chelsea and has taken his game to a new level, while James Maddison should also be ahead of Henderson in the midfield pecking order. There have been moments in recent years when Henderson has been the glue that's kept England together.
But the harsh truth is, England don't need him any more.
Alan Smith
The case against including Henderson during the autumn fixtures was focused almost entirely on him playing his club football in Saudi Arabia. Now he is back in Europe, albeit with the weakest Ajax team in recent memory, is there really much of an argument for omitting him?
Kalvin Phillips' awful, error-strewn start to his loan at West Ham places him at much greater risk of omission. While the hype around a first call up for Kobbie Mainoo keeps building, there should be caution - and how often has Gareth Southgate been criticised for his carefulness.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones' injuries limit options further, while it would raise eyebrows to see former regulars Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Ross Barkley recalled despite their impressive club form.
Sure, this month's games are friendlies - but everything we know about Southgate's management indicates that he will be looking to confirm decisions ahead of the Euros rather than experimenting with the outside chance of stumbling upon a new formula.
His adventure in Saudi did not work out as planned (Francois Nel/Getty Images)Tom Victor
If Jordan Henderson played in any other position, he would barely even be in the mix for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
There always seems to be one area with a relative lack of depth, though, and it just so happens that this time around it’s central midfield. Kalvin Phillips has barely played this season, and the same goes for Mason Mount, whose versatility might otherwise have marked him out as an option.
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are among the first names on the team sheet, but it looks like being a potentially inexperienced
roster beyond that. Southgate has a choice, then. He has to decide whether to include Henderson for his tournament know-how, because he surely wouldn’t call him up for his form on the pitch.
It’s a closer call than it might be, but Henderson narrowly misses out in my book. Rice and Bellingham can provide enough smarts and big game experience to lessen the need for the ex-Liverpool man, with Conor Gallagher doing enough to earn a spot and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s versatility and tournament experience making four.
James Maddison is an obvious contender for the Mount role, providing an option in a midfield three or further forward, and that arguably leaves one more spot. Southgate might not be especially keen on rookies at major tournaments, but Curtis Jones and Kobbie Mainoo have both done more than Henderson this season to justify a place on the plane.
Felix Keith
The moment Jordan Henderson signed for Al-Ettifaq he should have been signing away his international career. As well as showing himself to be morally bankrupt, Henderson was effectively admitting he was over the hill and ready for a gigantic payday.
He is now at Ajax, where Gareth Southgate is keeping an eye on his performances, but really an assist against Fortuna Sittard shouldn’t sway things. Southgate needs to put aside his loyalty and conservatism and call time on his England career at 81 caps.
The question of how to replace him is a harder one. Declan Rice is a nailed-on starter, but Kalvin Phillips’ form has fallen off a cliff and Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured and more familiar at right-back. Conor Gallagher is worthy of a place in the side but is a box-to-box energy machine, not a holding midfielder.
While they don’t have many options at No.6, England do have an embarrassment of riches further up the field, so may be best off fielding Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and co and taking the handbrake off. To do so, they likely need a different manager.
Gareth Southgate has relied on Henderson in previous tournaments (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Daniel Orme
Including an experienced winner in the latest England squad would never be a bad idea, especially with the Three Lions fancied to lift the Euros this summer. Jordan Henderson is that and more and has proven that over a hugely successful career.
However, his time with the Three Lions is done. The former Liverpool midfielder has played barely any top-level football since departing Anfield. His brief spell in Saudi Arabia came and went without any real starring moments and while Henderson has gone on to become a key player for Ajax, that is not a real achievement given the mire that the Dutch giants have found themselves in this season.
Besides, there are far better candidates to claim the midfield spots in Gareth Southgate’s selection. Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are the shoe-ins, while Conor Gallagher, James Ward-Prowse and even the in-form Ruben Loftus-Cheek - who continues to impress for AC Milan - should all be options for the summer.
One surprise option for a midfield berth should also be Trent Alexander-Arnold should he overcome his injury issues. With six options for the middle, that leaves little room for Henderson.
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